Lightning News

LIGHTNING SIGN FORWARD ERIC HEALEY

by
Staff Writer
/ Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed left wing Eric Healey to a two-way contract, Executive Vice President and General Manager Jay Feaster announced.

"Eric Healey is a proven goal scorer at the AHL level and a very versatile depth player for our organization," Feaster said. "He can play the wing or center, and he not only plays on the power play but can also kill penalties. In order to give himself the best chance possible to crack our roster it will be absolutely imperative that Eric prepare himself like never before in his career this summer and come to Camp in the best shape of his life. Again, this signing is significant for us in that Claude Loiselle has added to our depth in a way we simply did not experience last season."

Healey, 6-foot, 202-pounds, led the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League in scoring during the 2005-06 season with 71 points. He also led the team in assists with 42, power play goals with 11 and was tied for the lead in goals with 29. Healey also played in five postseason games and scored two goals with three assists. He made his NHL debut with Boston on November 25, 2006 and played in two games with the Bruins during the 2005-06 season.

A native of Hull, Massachusetts, Healey is a two-time 30-goal scorer at the AHL level. He has played in 439 career AHL games and scored 170 goals with 359 points. He has played in 24 career playoff games in the AHL and scored eight games while dishing out 11 assists. Healey, 31, led the AHL in goals during the 2002-03 season when he netted 42 and was the co-winner of the AHL's Fred Hunt trophy for sportsmanship.

Healey played his college hockey at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In 143 games with the Engineers he scored 82 goals and recorded 168 points. He was named an ECAC First Team All-Star in 1997-98, a Second Team All-Star in 1996-97 and to the NCAA East Second All-American Team in 1996-97 and 1997-98. He spent the 2004-05 season with Manheim of the German league and ranked fifth on the team in scoring with 29 points in 50 games.

Calgary signed Healey as an un-drafted free agent in September 22, 1998.